Skip to main content

Ted Leonsis’ 5 keys to living a life of purpose and happiness

By WTOP Staff

Oprah Winfrey got a lot of attention last weekend as she swept into town with her “The Life You Want” tour at Verizon Center. But the man who owns the Verizon Center has his own list of tips for “living a life of purpose.”

Ted Leonsis didn’t fire up a turbo-charged hype machine ala Oprah (he could, if wanted) in advance of his Tuesday evening talk, held at Capital One Financial’s headquarters in McLean instead of his downtown District venue.The invitation-only event ( versus $300-600 tickets for Oprah) was a part of a consciousness-raising evening for the Global Good Fund, the Arlington-based nonprofit that helps develop young entrepreneurs in socially-responsible endeavors.

After a dinner of salmon and crab cakes in the bank’s spacious and leafy atrium, about 200 guests were funneled to the building’s auditorium. There, Global Good Fund co-founder and CEO Carrie Rich introduced Leonsis and joined him at a pair of sofa chairs placed at the center of the stage.

The next hour was more of a monologue than an interview. Leonsis — the former AOL executive who founded Monumental Sports & Entertainment; he’s also part of Revolution Growth in D.C. — outlined his working-class roots in Brooklyn and Lowell, Massachusetts. He talked about his days at Georgetown University and early success in business. Then he detailed his near-death experience in a plane crash that resulted in his “reckoning” and making a life list of 101 goals for happiness.

While Oprah and other self-help gurus are inclined to emotionally exclaim and animatedly bound across a stage in their presentations, Leonsis never left his seat. His voice was moderated. The only dramatic touch of the evening came when he picked up and intentionally dropped an unopened bottle of water, then stomped on the floor to demonstrate the behavior of sports fans at the Verizon Center.

Leonsis said it has been on ongoing process for him to become more meaningful and intentional about his life rather than just making money in his businesses.

“Being successful doesn’t mean you are going to be happy, but happy people have a higher rate of success,” he said.

He pointed to the late Michael Jackson as an example of “the formula of success not leading to happiness.”

Here are five of Leonsis’ top tips, which are adapted and evolved from his 2010 book “The Business of Happiness: 6 Secrets to Extraordinary Success in Life and Work.” He suggested:

  1. Participating in multiple communities of interest: Don’t wait to make money before devoting time and money to good causes.
  2. Having high levels of self-expression: Leonsis said he blogs before daybreak.
  3. Developing high levels of empathy: He once worked with the cleaning crew at Verizon Center immediately after hosting President Obama at the venue.
  4. Getting out of I and into we: There’s no “I” in team, he said, echoing nearly every high school sports coach.
  5. Pursue higher callings: Leonsis said one of biggest goals is creating lifelong memories for other people, such as winning a Stanley Cup or NBA championship (he owns the Washington Capitals and Wizards, in case you were unaware).

Or landing the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote